meeting on syria on our website, c-span.org. right now we are going to leave this and go live to the floor of the u.s. house of representatives, members coming in to begin legislative work. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the prayer will be offered by the guest chaplain, reverend sam smucker from the center center -- worship center, lancaster, pennsylvania. the chaplain: let us pray. thank you for giving us many blessings and freedoms that we experience. we have many challenges in our nation. we need a moral and spiritual renewal to meet those challenges. we ask for your protection over our lives, over our families, over our communities and schools. we pray we would be able to live peacefully, marked by godliness and dignity.

blessed is the nation whose god is the lord. we pray that you would fill the men and women in this chamber with your wisdom as they consider the business at hand. we pray that the decisions that are made would be good -- would be for the good of our nation. we pray you would give them courage to work together, to make decisions that make our nation strong and honorable to you. father, thank you for the service of these men and women in jesus name. amen. the speaker pro tempore: the chair has examined of the last day's proceedings and announced to the house his approval thereof. pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1 the journal stands approved. for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, pursuanto clause 1, rule 1, i demand a vote on agreeing to the speaker's approval of the journal. the speaker pro tempore: the question is on agreeing to the speaker's approval of the journal. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it.

the journal stands approved. for what purpose does the gentleman from -- >> mr. speaker, i object to the vote on the grounds that a quorum is not present and and i make a point of order that a quorum is not present. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question are postponed. the pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. smucker. mr. smucker: i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. smucker, is recognized for one minute. thank you, mr. speaker. it gives me a great pleasure today to welcome the guest

chaplain for the house, to the floor. he is a leader in our community, in p.a.'s 16th district as well as my oldest brother. i also have five other brothers of mine in the gallery with us here today on what i learned was a very appropriate day since this is national siblings day. very pleased to host my brothers who are enjoying the sites here in washington, d.c. we have five sisters as well so i guess that will be another day. but specifically my oldest brother, sam, was born into an amish home and was really used by god, leads a congregation called the worship center in lancaster county. they have 4,000 members. as well as he leads a menster's fellowship impacting --

ministership fellowship impacting others and is in missionary endeavors across the world. sam has had an impact not only in our community, across the world as well and a spiritual leader for our family. we welcome him today. thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. for what purpose does the gentleman -- the chair will entertain further requests for one-minute speeches. for what purpose does the gentleman from north carolina seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> mr. speaker, over the past few weeks i have joined many of our colleagues to rise in honor of dr. billy graham. today, i rise in honor of one of the quiet heroes who helped make his worldwide ministry possible. ms. stephanie wills served as billy graham's secretary. she refused passier titles. mr. pittenger: traveling the

world to help dr. graham in his crusades and countless meetings. my first contact with stephanie was in the 1970's when i served as assistant to dr. bill bright, utt founder for campus crusade for christ. it's great to see stephanie at dr. graham's funeral as she was serving him. stephanie is legendary. she is highly competent, fiercely loyal and unflappable. i said several times that dr. graham was a great man because he was faithful to the mission that god had given to him. the same can be said of stephanie wills. she has been a faithful servant of jesus christ, playing a quiet, yet enormous role in sharing the gospel around the world through her dedicated and tireless support of god's servant, dr. billy graham. well done, stephanie. a wonderful servant of god. thank you and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. for what purpose does the

gentleman from illinois seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> mr. speaker, in illinois' 10th district, one doesn't have to look far to see america's strength and advanced 21st century manufacturing. in fact, my district has the fourth highest concentration of manufacturing jobs of any district in the nation. manufacturing is still key to our nation's future prosperity because it creates a multiplier effect that generates economic growth and jobs throughout our economy, so last week i visited 12 local manufacturers as part of my made in illinois 10 tour. i had three key takeaways from my visit. mr. schneider: first, innovation is alive and well in illinois 10. i saw new applications in design, robotics and more. at every turn, innovation is created new, quality, well-paying jobs. second, we have to close the skills gap. we need more teachers, parents,

and especially young, smart, talented people to recognize that working in manufacturing can be a stimulating and rewarding career. third, when the global market is fair and level, when the playing field is level, american companies not only can compete, we can win and we can prosper. we need to hold bad actors like china accountable. the president's shoot from the hip action is sparking a destructive cycle of retaliatory tariffs. the companies i visited are worried about that and indeed feeling the impact of a trade war. mr. speaker, i was encouraged by the ingenuity and drive of our local manufacturers and i remain committed to supporting this crucial sector of our economy. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> thank you, mr. speaker. yesterday, the nonpartisan

congressional budget office, the c.b.o., released a report. mr. kildee: highlighting the fact that the budget deficit will pass $1 trillion within two years thanks in large part to the massive tax cuts granted to the wealthiest americans in he recently adopted republican tax plan. $1 trillion. this tax plan is projected to add itself close to $2 trillion to the deficit over a decade. this reckless plan jeopardizes our economic recovery by taking away the ability for us to invest in those elements of our communities and society that will grow our economy. i mean, the very thought that we have a massive deficit in

our public infrastructure, and that's nowhere on the table in this house. roads and bridges crumbling. water systems like the water system of my hometown of flint failing, and we continue to pass on massive debt to our children and grandchildren is irresponsible and it ought to be reversed. with that i yield back, mr. chairman. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. pursuant to clause 12-a of rule 1, the chair declares the house approximatelyl